A Facebook page titled "Support Whitney Kropp" now has more than 130,000 fans, and Kropp had the courage attend the homecoming event with confidence.

Our take: Whitney Kropp, a 16-year-old sophomore at a Michigan high school, was nominated to the homecoming court as a joke. In response to the cruelty of her peers, Kropp's community rallied behind her, and the support has spread. A Facebook page titled Support Whitney Kropp now has more than 130,000 fans, and Kropp had the courage attend the homecoming event last weekend with confidence. Read more about the story on Detroit Free Press, and watch the related CNN video below.

Cheers erupted and cameras flashed Friday as Whitney Kropp stepped onto her high school football field as a star.

"I'm overwhelmed," she said later, with flowers in her hair and the straps on her red, ruffled dress sparkling under the stadium lights.

Kropp, a 16-year-old sophomore, made headlines this month when she decided to join Ogemaw Heights High School's homecoming court, despite being nominated as a joke. Many people around West Branch, as well as across the country, praised her courage and embraced her anti-bullying message.

Emily Eyring is an editor and product manager for DeseretNews.com. She is responsible for the content and presentation of the online Faith and Family sections. Prior to joining Deseret Digital Media, Emily worked as an more ..